Like many of Nelson Mandela's post imprisonment speeches, the crowd he addressed after his election seemed very engaged and receptive. The speech was given on May 5, 1994. Mandela starts the speech off by saying, " It is the time for healing wounds". This metaphor compares South Africa to a wound and signifies that Mandela himself is prepared to help lead in the rebuilding process of the nation. Within the speech keeps reminding the audience that it is now time to rise again. He also talks about how possible it is because of the fact that the seemingly unthinkable has happened and he has become South Africa's first black president. Also he talks about the progression of South Africa as a whole. In each point he demonstrates the classical use of logos or logical implementation of the spoken word. This enhances his power of presentation (classically referred to as Dunamis). The presentation of rhetoric is important in that it contributes to the effectiveness of the speech as a whole. Aristotle defines Rhetoric as, " The faculty of observing, in any given case, the available means of persuasion." Likewise, Mandela's speech is persuading the South African citizens the Nation of South Africa will become a place that reflects the people as well as standing up for human justice. This speech is implemented to educate South Africans on legislation and ideas he wishes to implement during his presidency. The strategy of the speech was to display a plan for his next few years in office. Strategy is often used for planning subject matter within the speeches. Orators must strategize when speaking in order to avoid bombast, and empty talk. To fully take advantage of the audiences time it is crucial that an orator premeditates and thinks on his topics. This goes along with the rhetorical term inventio which means to research. Mandela tends to sound like he knows what he must say and that is seen through precision and use of appropriate verbiage and diction. The author's appeal or ethos is shown in his ability to speak with clarity and his understanding of the topic. The type of Rhetoric used by Mandela is epideictic because it is ceremonial and demonstrates how Mandela will handle the next few years of when he is in office. Mandela gives his goals of his next few years in office and he says, "we" commit ourselves to the construction of a complete, just and lasting peace". With this statement, he is morally connecting with his audience, of which is an effective tool of an orator. This displays understanding as well as the rhetorical ability to relate with an audience. In this statement Mandela uses the word "WE" to show that in his term he will implement the wants and needs of what's best for the people in order to keep the South Africans at peace. The notion of Unity is portrayed within this statement. As in most of his statements, Mandela uses the word "we" to signify South African as an entire body instead of separate individuals. He says, "We must therefore act together as a united people for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement." The phrase begins with the rhetorical term Asyndeton of which is the grouping of individual phrases with the omission of conjunctions. This makes the individual phrases seem as if they are one distinct idea within multiple points. After this he states that the current state of South Africa is a glorious achievement. In my opinion the wording of this phrase is very stylistically and appropriately recited. To end his speech, Mandela says, "Let freedom Reign." The words evoke power and thunderous applause. Personally, this is one of my favorite speeches by Mandela and it makes me feel as if his words suggest unity within all humanity. It was so stirringly emotional that I too found myself adding to the applause. That is the effect Demosthenes preached about when he talked about the importance of delivery.
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